AN INVESTIGATION ON ONLINE COMPONENTS OF THE BACHELOR OF EDUCATION HONOURS IN SPECIAL NEEDS EDUCATION DEGREE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL NEEDS EDUCATION

M. L. Sudarshana

Abstract


The Department of Special Needs Education, part of the Faculty of Education at the Open University of Sri Lanka (OUSL), offers the Bachelor of Education Honours in Special Needs Education degree. This program differs from other bachelor’s degree programs as most activities are conducted online. The study aims to identify the current situation, explore the challenges faced by students and lecturers, and propose improvements for online activities in the program. The study follows a pragmatic philosophical worldview and employs a mixed-methods research approach with a convergent design. Data was collected through questionnaires (49 students and 8 lecturers), interview schedules (10 students and 4 lecturers), and document analysis. The program spans four years and requires 120 credits, with assessments consisting of continuous assessment (CA) and a final examination. Findings indicate that most students were satisfied with their technical knowledge and used mobile phones for online activities. However, many students faced difficulties with slow internet connections, unclear audio, and device malfunctions. While 58% of students were satisfied with their online activities, 12% expressed dissatisfaction. A significant number of lecturers (87.5%) preferred face-to-face teaching. Lecturers (75%) reported three major issues: equipment problems, lack of student responses, and internet-related difficulties. Students suggested providing clearer instructions for online activities, while lecturers recommended offering flexible solutions for online assignment submission and grading. Additionally, the researcher proposes the creation of a convenient communication channel, especially for students’ grievances, to promptly resolve any issues related to online activities.

 

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online components; the bachelor of education honours in special needs education degree

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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.46827/ejes.v11i12.5729

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